Plum tree named &#39;Suplumfifty&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plum tree variety,  Prunus salicina , cv. ‘Suplumfifty’ is characterized by fruit having deep red flesh, nearly black skin, and a cling stone. The fruit is medium in sugar and has low acidity. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is also moderate in juice and has a sweet-mild flavor. The date of the harvest of the fruit of the new variety is later than for ‘Black Splendor’ (unpatented). The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ ripens with nearly same timing as the fruit of ‘Black Kat’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,134) but with a deep red flesh compared to amber-colored for ‘Black Kat’.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Prunus salicina

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suplumfifty’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum, Prunus salicina cv. ‘Suplumfifty’. The new variety was first originated by hybridization by Terry A. Bacon as breeder number ‘PL1387RB’.

The new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is characterized by having fruit with deep red flesh, nearly black skin, and a cling stone. The fruit is medium in sugar and has low acidity. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is also moderate in juice and has a sweet-mild flavor.

The seed parent is ‘98P039-035-291’ (unpatented breeding variety), and the pollen parent is ‘96P024-003-430’ (unpatented breeding variety). The parent varieties were first crossed in February 2008, with the date of first sowing being March 2009, and the date of first flowering being February 2011. The new plum variety ‘Suplumfifty’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in January 2012 by grafting.

The new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is distinguished from its seed parent ‘98P039-035-291’ (unpatented breeding variety) in that the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ has fruit with deep red flesh while the fruit of ‘98P039-035-291’ has yellow flesh.

The new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is similar to its pollen parent ‘96P024-003-430’ (unpatented breeding variety) in that the fruit of both varieties has red flesh. The new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is distinguished from its pollen parent ‘96P024-003-430’ in that the harvest of the fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ starts later, on August 11, compared to July 20 for ‘96P024-003-430’.

The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ ripens with nearly same timing as the fruit of ‘Black Kat’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,134) but the flesh color of the fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ is red compared to amber-colored for ‘Black Kat’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,134). The fruit of teh new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ has deep red flesh like ‘Black Splendor’ (unpatented) but the harvest of the fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfifity’ starts August 11 while the ‘Black Splendor’ harvest starts June 12.

The new variety ‘Suplumfifty’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, grafting and budding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration FIG. 1 shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new plum variety ‘Suplumfifty’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, a view of the fruit as a whole, the stone as a whole, and a sectional view of a fruit divided across its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. The photographs depicts fruit and vegetative growth from a four year old tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to four year old ‘Suplumfifty’ plants, grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during 2014 and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Tree:     -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on a four year old tree unless             otherwise noted.) Size: Medium, reaches a height of             approximately 3 meters including normal pruning. Spread:             Approximately 3 meters. Vigor: Medium, growth of about 1.5 m             to 2 m in height the first growing season. Growth: Upright.             Productivity: Productive. Form: Vase formed. Bearer:             Regular. Fertility: Unknown. Canopy Density: Medium.             Hardiness: Hardy in all fruit growing areas of California.             Winter chilling requirement is approximately 700 hours at or             below 7.2° C. Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: Under close             observation in Kern County, Calif., no particular             plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been             observed. Insect Resistance/Susceptibility: Under close             observation in Kern County, Calif., no particular             plant/fruit insect resistance/susceptibility has been             observed.         -   Trunk.—(Measurements at approximately 30 cm above soil line             on mature tree) Length: 46 cm Diameter: Approximately 14 cm.             Texture: Medium shaggy, increases with age of tree. Trunk             color: About Medium Greyed-Green 198B on older weathered             wood and about Medium Greyed-Orange 173B on younger, less             weathered wood.         -   Branches.—(Measurements at approximately 90 cm above soil             line.) Length: 2 m Size: Diameter approximately 8 cm.             Texture: Medium, Shaggy. Color: Varying between about Medium             Greyed-Green 198B to about Medium Greyed-Orange 173B,             becoming darker with age. Lenticels: Present.         -   Lenticels.—Number: Medium. 1/cm2 Density: About 2/cm².             Color: About Medium Grey-Brown 199B. Size: Medium.             Approximately 3 mm×2 mm.         -   Flowering shoots.—(Data taken in September at mid-point of             current season growth.) Size: Average diameter approximately             5 mm. Color: Topside: About Dark Greyed-orange 176A.             Underside: About Dark Greyed-Orange 176A. Internode Length:             Medium; approximately 2 cm. Midway on flowering shoot.             Flowering Shoot Lenticels: Moderate amount. 3/cm2 Color:             About Medium Greyed-Orange 164B. Diameter: Approximately             0.5 mm. Flowering Shoot Leaf Buds: Shape: Conical. Width:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color:             About Dark Greyed-Orange 166A. Texture: Smooth Flowering             Shoot Flower Buds: Shape: Ovoid. Width: Approximately             1.1 mm. Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Dark             Greyed-Orange 166A. Number of buds per node: 2-4. Texture:             Smooth Density of buds: Medium. Flower bud distribution: On             spurs and one year old shoots and older wood. Ratio of wood             (leaf) buds to flowering buds: ½-4 on nodes. Anthocyanin             intensity: Slight on upper surface of shoot Spur length:             Usually 9 mm Position of vegetative bud in relation to             shoot: Slightly held out. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaves.—(Data taken in September on fully expanded leaves at             mid-point of the current season growth.) Average length:             Medium; approximately 90 mm without petiole. Average width:             Medium; approximately 45 mm. Thickness: Medium. 1 mm Color:             Upper surface: About Dark Green 139A. Lower surface: About             Medium Green 139B. Form: Broad obovate. Tip: Cuspidate.             Base: V-shaped. Margin: Crenate. Venation: Pinately net             veined. Vein Color: About Medium Green 146D. Surface             Texture: Smooth, upper and lower surfaces. Leaf blade (Ratio             of length to width): Medium, about 2:1. Shape in the cross             section: Concave. Angle at apex: Small. Profile: Up folded.             Leaf blade tip: Curved downwardly. Angle of tip: Acute.             Undulation of margin: Slight. Glossiness of upper side:             Slight Density of pubescence of lower side: Absent.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Short; approximately 8 mm. Average             Diameter: Medium, approximately 2 mm. Color: About Medium             Green 146D with highlights of about Medium Red 43B.             Thickness: Medium, approximately 2 mm. Texture: Smooth             Length: 10 mm.         -   Stipules.—Number/Leaf bud: Approximately 0-2 per leaf bud             when present. Typical length: Approximately 8 mm. Color:             About Medium Yellow-Green 147C. Persistence: Falls off.             Texture (upper): Smooth on upper and lower surfaces.         -   Leaf glands.—Average number: Approximately 0. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—Flower Blooming Period: First bloom: Approximately             March 1 in Wasco, Calif. Full bloom: Approximately March 5             in Wasco, Calif. Location of first bloom: Bottom of third             canopy. Location of full bloom: Mid-section of the canopy.             Duration of Bloom: Medium; approximately 9 days. Diameter of             fully opened flower: Medium, approximately 26 mm. Flower             aroma: Slight. Shape: Campanulate.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium; approximately 10 mm. Diameter:             Slender; approximately 1.5 mm. Color: About Light Green             139D. Pubescence: Absent.         -   Petals.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Free. Length: Approximately             11 mm. Diameter: Approximately 8 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex             Shape: Rounded. Base Shape: Narrows at point of attachment.             Color of inner and outer surface: About White 155B. Surface             Texture: Smooth. Margins: Slightly undulating, entire.             Frequency of flowers with double petals: None. Claw length:             Short, 2 mm Margin waviness: Medium. Base angle: Medium.             Division of upper margin: Entire. Pubescence of inner             surface: Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: Approximately 4 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: About Medium             Yellow-Green 145A. Surface Texture: Smooth. Margins: Finely             toothed. Positioning: Adpressed to petals. Pubescence of             inner surface: Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.             Frequency of flowers with double sepals: None.         -   Stamens.—Number: Usually 28-35, average 32. Average Length:             About 5-10 mm, average about 7 mm. Filament Color: About             White 155B. Anther Color: About Medium Yellow 8A, becoming             dark as it ages to Medium Greyed-Orange 163A. Flower Pollen             Color: About Medium Greyed-Orange 163A. Position:             Perigynous.         -   Pistil.—Color: About Light Yellow-Green 144D Number: Usually             one, ocassionally 2. Average Length: Approximately 6-9 mm.             Ovary Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Pubescence: None. Stigma             Extension in Comparison to Anthers: Usually below. Style             Frequency of Supplementary Pistils: Few.         -   Flower-buds.—Hardiness: Somewhat hardy.         -   Receptacle.—Depth: Medium, 5 mm Pubescence of inner surface:             Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.         -   Ovary.—Color: About Light Yellow-Green 144D.         -   Style.—Pubescence (of base): Absent. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—(Description taken near Wasco, Kern County, Calif.             on August 16) Date of first pick: Approximately August 12.             Date of last pick: Approximately August 31. Maturity when             described: Firm. Season Ripening: Late. August 12 Position             of maximum diameter: Towards the middle. Symmetry about the             suture: Symmetric. Shape of base: Rounded.         -   Size.—Length (Stem End to Apex): Approximately 66 mm.             Diameter in Line with Suture Plane: Approximately 70 mm.             Diameter Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 70 mm.             Average Weight: Approximately 176 gm.         -   Form.—Viewed from Apex: Rounded. Viewed from Side, Facing             Suture: Rounded. Viewed from Side, Perpendicular to Suture:             Rounded.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Fruit stem cavity.—Shape: Rounded. Depth: Shallow;             Approximately 0.8 cm. Breadth: Approximately 8 cm. Width:             Medium, 14 mm.         -   Fruit stem.—Length: Medium; approximately 2 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Color: About Light-Yellow-Green 147D.             Adherence to Stone: Strong.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness: Medium, 0.8 mm. Adherence to Flesh:             Strong. Surface Texture: Smooth. Pubescence: None. Bloom:             Medium, somewhat persistent. Ground color: About Medium             Greyed-Red 180B when visible. Overcolor: About Dark Black             202A. Relative area of overcolor: Nearly 100% Pattern of             overcolor: Solid Taste: Neutral. Reticulation: Absent.             Roughness: Absent. Tenacity: Tenacious to flesh Tendency to             crack: Slight to none in wet season.         -   Flesh.—Ripens: Evenly. Texture: Firm-juicy. Fibers: Few.             Flavor: Sweet-mild. Brix: Approximately 20°. Juice:             Moderate. Aroma: Slight. Anthocyanin color around stone:             About Dark Red 46A. Anthocyanin color of flesh: Strongly             expressed throughout evenly. Amygdalin: Wanting Acidity:             Low. Sugar content: High. Eating quality: Good. Stone/Flesh             Ratio: Small, about 1:98 Firmness: Firm.         -   Pit cavity size.—Length: Approximately 28 mm. Diameter             perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 18 mm. Diameter             in line with Suture: Approximately 8 mm. Color: About Dark             Red 46A.         -   Fruit use.—Fresh market.         -   Fruit shipping and keeping quality.—Good.         -   Stone.—Stone Freeness: Cling over the entire surface. Degree             of Adherence to Flesh: Strong. Stone. Size: Size: Medium             Size compared to Fruit: Small. Length: Medium, approximately             28 mm. Diameter in line with suture plan: Approximately             18 mm. Diameter perpendicular to suture plane: Approximately             8 mm. Width of Stalk End: Medium, Approximately 3 cm. Angle             of Stalk end: Right angle. Hilum: Oval. Stone Form Viewed             from side: Oval with flat base and pointed apex. Viewed from             ventral end: Flattened. Viewed from Stem end: Oval. Stone             Shape: Base shape: Nearly straight. Apex shape: Pointed.             Hilum: Oval. Stone Surface: Irregularly furrowed and pitted             throughout Stone Halves: Nearly symmetrical. Stone Ridges:             Rounded throughout. Stone Outgrowing Keel: Partly developed.             Stone Tendency to Split: None in wet season. Stone Color:             About Medium Greyed-Orange 164C. Position of maximum:             Middle. Sides: Somewhat equal. Pits: Irregular. Ventrical             Edge: Thin with slight wing toward middle. Dorsal Edge:             Irregular ridges on either side. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct plum tree as herein described and illustrated. 